“You sure you have to go?” he asks, leaning against the wall by the garage door.
“My dog will be waiting up for me.” I tap my ride app and hold it up to him. “Is this your address?” He walks over slowly and nods. I confirm my order. “I’d like to catch up sometime, though, like actually, with talking.” My cheeks flush, but he can probably barely see them without a light on in the whole place since we arrived.
“I’d like that too,” he whispers, reaching out and touching my chin as he pulls me toward him for a kiss. His scruff rubs against my cheek as he pulls away, his hand waving toward him. “Gimme your phone.”
I hand it to him.
He taps the screen a few times, then repeatedly, and I wonder if I should cancel my ride and just walk home with how close we live. Even closer than Lucie’s place but in the opposite direction… I think.
He hands me my phone back. “Send me a text if you want to catch up. Hey, let me know when your next show is. I’d love to come. I loved watching you.”
I cover my mouth with my hand and lean in toward him. I push his chest away playfully while checking my phone again. “They’re two minutes away. I’m going to wait outside, so they see me.” I reach for the door and he pulls me back and kisses me once more. As we part, smiling, he grabs my hand.
“Have a good night, Lyn,” he whispers. “Get home safe.”
“Goodnight, Taylor.”
As I step through the door, I let go of his hand, and the cold night air envelops me. I pull on my jacket, and he closes the door behind me. Clutching my phone, I check the screen for the ride app. I told Stokes I’d text him when I got home. Two hours ago. He’s probably worried.
Home safe, I type and send it.
Or I will be soon.
I walk down the driveway to the sidewalk, my hair blowing in the wind as I follow the curb around the corner to the side of Taylor’s place where the app says the pick-up will be. I can’t wait to wash off my makeup and curl up with Stevie.
Headlights come from down the street, and as the car drives over a few bumps, I make out a dark colour like the one in the app. The car has tinted windows and the faint sound of music vibrates from it as it pulls up close to me. I squint to check the license plate as it drives around the corner and continues on past.
I check my app, and my car is coming down the road not far behind that one. The lights shine on me until it passes and slows down. I walk down to the curb and it stops in front of me beside Taylor’s. The plate matches the one on my app.
“For Lynda?” the driver asks as I open the back door.
“Yes, thanks.”
As he drives me home, I relive the moments I just spent with Taylor. He’s only changed a little from the guy I knew before college. Has a few more tattoos, might be a little taller, more buff, but mostly the same. Not too talkative, not that there was much room for that tonight, and he enjoyed watching me perform.
My cheeks grow hot as we turn onto my street and the driver slows down. “Which one?”
“Right there, with the porch. After the white car there.” He pulls to a stop in front of Carol and Alex’s house. “Sure, this is good. Thank you.”
“Have a good night,” he says.
I no sooner close the door, and he’s speeding off to his next customer, I’m sure. Leaving me alone on the dark, quiet street. I shiver as the wind blows my hair across my face and my phone trills in my hand.
A text from Stokes: Wish you could have stayed. Glad you’re home safe.
I shake my head and walk down the sidewalk, past the Hilden’s driveway toward the house.
Wished I could have stayed to drink with a group that only just now started treating me like someone they cared to be around? To chat with Howard about how I don’t measure up to Pascha? No. I’m happy with the decision I made tonight… but maybe the Toronto show will be different… unless Taylor shows up there, too…
A prickling at the base of my neck sends goose bumps across my skin. The feeling creeps in again, like I’m being watched, just steps from the house. I look up at the Hilden’s home. All the lights are off. They’re off in every home, except the living room light in mine, for Stevie.
I want to turn around. Someone’s behind me.
A low engine rumbles in reply to my thought. I glance over my shoulder as I keep walking, almost at the driveway. My heart races and my chest tightens as a dark car drives slowly down the street behind me. No headlights. Tinted windows. Like the one that passed me outside Taylor’s.
Once I reach the driveway, I stop and look back. It stops, too.
Chapter 10
I lie in bed,
sleeping with regret and dread.
The engine rumbles and the headlights flash on. I squint, but I can’t make out the plate, or even a figure inside. Are they going to pull away?
No. They’re watching me. I know it.
I turn around and walk up the driveway, glancing over my shoulder as I reach the porch steps and the car rolls forward. I jog up the steps, grabbing my keys from my purse, and turn over my shoulder. The car has stopped again, right in front of the house with a clear view to where I stand.
I jam the key in the hole and twist it, push the door open and slip inside. I twist the lock behind me as Stevie trots down the hall from the kitchen to
